The Tint

Mangroves in blackwater...an easy move

A quick one today. Holiday weekend here in The States, and taking a rare easy day!

So, I've been playing with some mangroves in blackwater...Really, because I thought it would be an interesting change of pace from trying to sprout them in brackish or saltwater, as I've personally done for years.

And yeah, as suspected, I'm getting propagules to sprout in blackwater.

This isn't surprising, because they ARE found in blackwater habitats in the wild, particularly in parts of Southeast Asia. 

However, it got me thinking about the potential to create blackwater tanks with mangroves, and how easy it would be to "slip into the aesthetic" that we're already pretty familiar with. And I'm kind of wondering how we might incorporate more mangroves not our blackwater systems!

Think about that...

Back with something more thorough tomorrow!

Stay Wet!

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Strange new worlds, amazing discoveries, and old friends...

Ever had one of those times when you're checking out a friend's aquariums, and you just can't recall the names of what you're looking at?

I had one of those experiences last week. I went to visit the reef tank and outdoor coral propagation system of my friend Dave. I hadn't been to his house for a while, but we talk fairly regularly. Upon arriving, of course we marveled at the many amazing corals and fishes in his reef tank. And I would look at such-and-such a coral, and be like, "Oh, wow, that's an amazing Anacropora", or "Man, I love that Sunset Montipora!"- some of the obvious species and "named" (gulp) variants I would pic up on right away...you know, you own a coral facility for a few years, immerse yourself in the culture...that stuff is just ingrained. 

Yet, for many of the "middle ground" species, I'd just be...struggling to remember the names. Out of practice. A bit "rusty." It was kind of disheartening. I mean, it was only two years since I was completely immersed in the stuff...coudl I have lost it THAT quickly?

Maybe? 

It was like a sort of "ego blow" to me at first...like, I was telling myself that i should KNOW all of these things right away..

However, I'd often stumble upon a very specific specimens, "cultivars" if you will- or species that had a story attached to them )"Oh, that's the one where our propagator pulled it from the lagoon in Into and got his foot stuck in the coral tray.." or "Oh, that's the one where they found an identical mother colony 100 miles away"... Or, "wasn't that the one they sent us and the bag came in with no water, but we saved it?"

Little stories, pieces of stuff...memories that brought them back.

It's the same with freshwater stuff, too. Sure, in a lifetime of fish keeping, you remember a fair amount of stuff...but some things just slip into the recesses of your mind until you need to recall them. Like, I hadn't kept killifish for quite a few years, until very recently. And, if you know anything about killies, one constant is that the taxonomy of like every genus is whacked out and constantly being revised. Walk away from that world for a few years, and you'll show it immediately: "Is that an Aphyosemion, or a Diapteron...or isn't it now Fundulopanchax , or...?"

Yeah.

And cichlids? Much the same. It's like, if you're not IN that world intensely, it's awfully difficult to remember everything. Taxonomy revisions, variations, captive strains, etc...all affect that world immensely.

And of course, don't even get me started on the catfishes! The whole "L series" thing is amazing and fascinating and- utterly confusing for me. Another one that, unless you're "knee deep" in that world, you couldn't tell the difference between an L202 and an L134 and a...Yeah, you get it.

Oh, and of course, it goes on and on. The shrimp people know seemingly every variation and grade of each type of Bee Shrimp or "King Kong" version, or whatever...Us "outsiders", who admire them for their beauty, often just think "Oh, cool blue shrimp there!"

And the best part about this stuff is that the aquarium hobby has experts in just about everything. Resources you can turn to; fellow travelers on the road to relate with; share stores and experiences with.

Remembering that the fish we now have 7 variations on was once considered exceedingly difficult to get to spawn in captivity is a testimony to the work of fellow hobbyists, and the skill set of our global community.

And the fact that, over time, you might forget the exact name of that color morph of Endler's Livebearer, or the correct genus that the "Columbian Ram" is found in doesn't mean you're some clueless throwback...It just means that you've been working in some different areas, exploring some new avenues, and trying some different stuff. It's hard to remember every minute detail of every fish, plant, or coral you've ever kept...and that's okay.

Just ask someone who knows.

And be proud of what you DO know...

Because you have one thing that overrides even the memories of the scientific names or perhaps the specific identifying factors for each one...You have the experience of working with them, trying to get to know them, and to figure out what they need. It's important to "refresh" your memory on this stuff, of course, so that you can be conversive and helpful to others. And I've found that it takes a surprisingly small amount of exposure to "old friends" before many of those memories stream back (good, bad, and otherwise...). 

And we always really can "get by with a little help from our friends"- fellow hobbyists who are currently working with the species in question...people who's depth may go far beyond what you ever even cared to know about the fish or plant or coral...At the end of the day, it's the sharing of information and experience that is so important.

And I've found, over the years, that "coming home" to species which I formerly knew, and maybe even took for granted- and looking at them andapPreciating them in a whole new light- is as rewarding and gratifying as any experience in the aquarium hobby. Yeah, you CAN go back again!

So, it's not such a bad thing to ask for help...ask the correct species name, or query a fellow hobbyist about how they breed that species you once though un-breedable...You not only might learn something new- you might just surprise yourself on how much you already knew.

Keep learning. Keep sharing. Keep asking.

Stay educated. Stay curious. Stay hungry. Stay humble.

And above all...

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Trade offs or "sacrifices?" Or, just the price of love...

I was called recently by an author writing a piece for a "lifestyle" magazine, wanting to find out the "inside scoop" on what it's like to be in the aquarium hobby. He's doing a piece on hobbies and the people who engage in them, and was curious how we feel about the things we give up to enjoy what we do.

It gave me some pause, and I thought that I'd share my thinking with you...

The aquarium hobby is just that- a hobby. However, unlike many hobbies, it’s engrossing, all-encompassing, almost obsession-inducing for a lot of people. Many hobbyists invest enormous amounts of time, money, and themselves into creating and maintaining an aquarium. It’s almost scary to the outsider, yet interestingly, just “par for the course” to a fish geek! This enormous resource expenditure often leads to rewards for you as a hobbyist, but only after a surprisingly large number of early-on “sacrifices”, right?

Ever looked at it from this perspective? It’s kind of interesting, if not a bit...well- scary! For example, look at the basics on this “list” of stuff you give up:

Sacrifice #1) Cold hard cash- Yeah, it’s not something easily avoidable for most of us. To build a reef aquarium requires capital. Tanks, gadgets, gear, livestock- even water- all cost money, and that’s a reality that doesn’t end once your tank is up and running, right? I mean, there’s the ongoing expenses of operating a tank…Foods, chemicals, plants, fertilizers, gadgets, fishes…It keeps adding up.

Sacrifice #2- Time- Well, of course, it takes a lot of time to plan, assemble and create a great reef tank. Now, you can say that it’s not really a “sacrifice”, I suppose- because doing all this stuff is what makes it a hobby! However, I know a lot of hobbyists who make the vacation week “tank build week”, or who have given up going to other events because they’re re-plumbing their system, etc. And think about all of the club people who volunteer their time during conventions. They’re giving up something, weather you see it this way or not.

Sacrifice #3- You’re dealing with live animals and it may not work- Yeah, THAT one kinda sucks. Let’s face it, your idea to maintain 4 male Lamprologus in a 60 gallon multiple-rock formation aquascape looked good on paper, perhaps- but the animals will dictate what works. It’s easy to theorize about a mixed livebearer tank, a lot harder to execute! The rear Angel may not acclimate...Sometimes, despite our best pals, stuff just doesn’t happen the way we think it will. This may result in loss of life, discouragement, and other issues. All are tragic (with loss of life being the worst!), and each one is a sacrifice in and of itself.

Okay, now I’ve just dropped a huge "buzzkill" on the whole hobby, so maybe it’s time to look at the positives…What about the long-term positive results of such sacrifices?

Long Term Benefit #1- You’re in complete control- sort of. Yeah, you can create the exact type of environment you’re trying to replicate, complete with water chemistry, lighting, flow, and associated corals and animals. Sacrificing “having everything”  (ie; the “community tank”) gives you more control over what you DO decide to keep. This is something that is often overlooked during the planning and creation process of a specialized aquarium.

Long Term Benefit #2 - You can even learn from failure. Nothing is ever really wasted. Despite setbacks and near disasters, it seems like every experience we have in reef keeping can be a learning experience that makes us better reefers. Often times, recovery from failure can teach us more than success right out of the blocks. Seeing what CAN go wrong and what steps work to rectify the situation is valuable knowledge- heard-won, but exceedingly useful. Which brings us quickly to the next, related benefit:

Long Term Benefit #3- You learn what works- and what doesn’t- quickly- and you get to keep the skills! In other words, if something kills your fishes, you’ll get a really great read for what works and what doesn’t…And you’ll make those adjustments if you want to continue to play the fishkeeping game…And you will have that experience to fall back on.

Long Term Benefit #4-  You accumulate friends and experiences to share. These are the priceless intangibles of this hobby and journey… the things that really matter in this whole game of fishkeeping are often the things that matter to us in the rest of life- friends, relationships, etc. 

In the end, are any of these things really “sacrifices?” Are any of the lessons we learn from this hobby- the experiences that we accumulate- are any of them truly a “sacrifice?” I think it all depends upon how you look at things, in actuality.

That's not so bad at all, right?

If you’re successful- and sometimes even if you’re not- you make your mark, influence people, interact. Win. And you can contribute to the body of knowledge that is aquarium keeping...what a HUGE win, right?

Think about that today! 

Stay engaged. Stay dedicated. Stay diligent.

And stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

The "art of the boil"...and other botanical preparation theories...

Are you a "soaker" or a "boiler", or a "boil and soak" kind of "botanical prepper?"

Sounds ridiculous to the uninitiated; however, as you know, those are important things in our world! We've developed our favorite protocols for botanical preparation over the years, and as our community grows, we see more and more evolution of this technique. We've even created our evolving "document", an entire section on "Aquatic Botanical Preparation" on our website, which- we're going to go out on a limb and just say it- might just be the most comprehensive guide to botanical preparation for aquarium use ever produced! (chest beating here...)

Preparation of your botanicals is, in our humble opinion, one of the absolutely most critical steps you can take to assure success in your blackwater, botanical-style aquarium adventure. It can "set the tone" for your aquarium right from the start, so it's critical to have a working knowledge of this process before you get underway.

One of the first things you realize when you see posts from our community is that we're really into boiling stuff that we place in our aquariums. Boiling accomplishes a lot of things, as we'll examine below. And it's one of the realities that "goes with the territory" when you embark on a botanical/blackwater "journey."

What exactly is the definition of boilng, anyways? Well, boiling is the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid is equal to the pressure placed on the liquid by its surrounding atmosphere. 

And- why do we boil stuff that we add to our aquariums in the first place?

Well, to begin with, consider that boiling water is used as a method of making water potable by killing microbes that may be present. Most nasty microbes "check out" at temperatures greater than 60 °C (140 °F). For a high percentage of microbes, if water is maintained at 70 °C (158 °F) for ten minutes, many organisms are killed, but some are more resistant to heat and require one minute at the boiling point of water. (FYI the boiling point of water is 100 °C, or 212 °F)...But for the most part, most of the nasty bacteria that we don't want in either our tanks or our stomachs are eliminated by this simple process. Ten minutes of boiling is "golden", IMHO.

So, for one reason, we boil botanicals to kill any possible microorganisms which might be present on them. Leaves, seed pods, etc. have been exposed to rain and dust and all sorts of things in the natural environment which, in the confines of an aquarium, could contribute to the degradation of the water.

Also, the surfaces and textures of many botanical items, such as leaves and seed pods lend themselves to retaining dirt, soot, dust, and other atmospheric pollutants that, although likely harmless in the grand scheme of things, are not stuff you want to start our with in your tank.

We give all of our botanicals a good rinse. Then we boil.

Boiling also serves to soften botanicals. If you remember your high school Botany, leaves, for example, are surprisingly complex structures, with multiple layers designed to reject pollutants, facilitate gas exchange, drive photosynthesis, and store sugars for the benefit of the plant on which they're found. As such, it's important to get them to release some of the materials which might be bund up in the epidermis (outer layers) of the leaf.  As we get deeper into the structure of a leaf, we find the mesophyll, a layer of tissue in which much of photosynthesis takes place.

We use only dried leaves in our botanical style aquariums, because these leaves from deciduous trees, which naturally fall of the trees in seasons of inclement weather, have lost most of their chlorophyll and sugars contained within the leaf structures. This is important, because having these compounds present, as in living leaves, contributes excessively to the bioload of the aquarium when submerged...

Many of us rinse, then steep our leaves rather than a prolonged boil, for the simple fact that exposure to the newly-boiled water will accomplish the potential "kill" of unwanted organisms, which at the same time softening the leaves by permeating the outer tissues. This way, not only will the "softened" leaves "go to work" right away, releasing the beneficial tannins and humic substances bound up in their tissues, they will sink, too! 

And of course, I know many who simply "rinse and drop", and that works for them, too!

It's not a perfect science- this leaf preparation "thing." However, over the years, aquarists have developed simple approaches to leaf prep that work with a high degree of reliability. Now, there are some leaves, such as Magnolia, which take a longer time to saturate and sink because of their thick waxy cuticle layer. And there are others, like Loquat and Teak, which can be undeniably "crispy", yet when steeped begin to soften and work just fine.

So why do we soak after boiling?

Well, it's really a personal preference thing. I feel that it releases any remaining pollutants and undesirable organics that might have been bound up in the leaf tissues and released by boiling, which is certainly arguable, but is also, IMHO, a valid point. And since we're a company dedicated to giving our customers the best possible outcomes- we recommend being conservative and employing the soak. The soak could be for an hour or two, or overnight...no real "science" to it. Some aquarists would argue that you're wasting all of those valuable tannins and humic substances when you soak the leaves overnight after boiling. My response has always been that you might lose some, but since the leaves have a "lifespan" of weeks, even months, and since you'll see tangible results from them (i.e.; tinting of the water) for much of this "operational lifespan, an overnight soak is no big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Do what's most comfortable for you- and okay for your fishes.

When it comes to to other botanicals, such as seed pods, the preparation is very similar. Again, most seed pods have tougher exterior features, and require prolonged boiling and soaking periods to release any surface dirt and contaminants, and to saturate their tissues to get them to sink when submerged! 

And quite simply, each botanical item "behaves" just a bit differently, and many will require slight variations on the theme of "boil and soak", some testing your patience as they may require multiple "boils" or prolonged soaking in order to get them to saturate and sink.

In the end, preparation techniques for aquatic botanicals are as much about prevention as they are about "preparation." By taking the time to properly prepare your botanical additions for use in the aquarium, you're doing all that you can to exclude unwanted bacteria and microorganisms, surface pollutants, excess of sugars and other unwelcome compounds, etc. from entering into your aquarium. 

Like so many things in our evolving "practice" of perfecting the blackwater, botanical-style aquarium, developing, testing, and following some basic "protocols" is never a bad thing. And understanding some of the "hows and whys" of the process and the reasons for embracing it will hopefully instill into our community the necessity- and pleasures- of going slow, taking the time, observing, tweaking, and evolving our "craft"- for the benefit of the entire aquarium community.

And one of the best things about this process- like so many that we engaged in with our unique sector- is that we all have the opportunity to contribute to our body of knowledge, practice, and the "state of the art" of the blackwater, botanical-style aquarium. Everyone's contribution is not only welcome- it's a vital part of the process.

Isn't that cool?

Stay involved. Stay inquisitive. Stay persistent. Stay engaged.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

To the "foolish" ones...

Today's post came about as a result of listening to a member of our community- a very successful, highly accomplished aquarist who has done some amazing stuff-having shared his aquarium on an online forum and gotten roundly thrashed by a couple of armchair critics for no apparent reason.

He was dumbfounded. 

Fortunately, he had a thick enough skin to simply dismiss it, and continued to share his work and results, which , in the end, silenced the critic and his "allies"...but he was alarmed at the ferocity of the attack levied upon him and his idea.

It happens.

At some point, at some time, and in some place, you're going to get some criticism for what you're doing in the hobby. Perhaps it's a product of the relative anonymity or comfort that social media provides. Avatars and screen names can make very weak people into bullies. They can also make some people strong enough to become great friends and mentors. Yet, you do see a fair amount of critiques levied by seemingly anonymous people out there online. Often times, it's from a person who doesn't even know you, who sees you trying something they feel is unwise, ill-advised, or even dangerous with your fishes. 

I suppose that's a good thing. It's nice that we have a sort of support system to help guide us on our aquatic journeys.

Usually, criticisms are offered in the spirit of friendship and support, perhaps with the hope that you won't repeat a painful (or costly) mistake that the critic made themselves. These are useful, and you should, at the very least, pay attention to what is being preferred, evaluate the criticism against the context of what you're doing, and make your next move based on your quick analysis.

Yet, there are darker ones...Yes.

Other criticisms are of a slightly different, often less "friendly" nature. They come from a place of...well...fear. A place of anger. A place of ego. You know the kind I'm talking about. The kind of flat-out dismissive, judgmental, almost "boilerplate" types of criticisms. Especially when you're trying something new, or executing an idea which has not been done much before, if at all, in the manner in which you're attempting.

And often, they're very biting:

"You can't do that."

"It's not done that way."

"Your tank will crash." 

"Your a fool."

Stuff like that.

Again, your first move is not to flip the guy/gal the middle finger and go at it. Obviously, this person is opinionated. Is it because they've done what you did before and had a bad experience? Is it because they wish they had thought of the idea? Is it because they have an expertise in a small area related to what you're doing and want to prove what they know by lashing out?

Sometimes I've found, in my four decades in the hobby, that the most dismissive, arrogant critics are often those who have not done what you are doing. They "know" not from firsthand experience, but because they've "heard" or read that this is contrary to what everyone who has been successful in the past is doing. They're those who, for whatever reason, feel it necessary to discourage, degrade, and otherwise thwart your attempts to do something perhaps a bit outside of their comfort zone...these self-appointed "guardians of aquarium practice."

So they attack.

They fall back on "the books." Or maybe some related information they found online. 

Remember, if you're doing something new or in a different way, there is typically not much out there on it to "support" your position. It's often up to you to weather the attacks and explain how you did what you did, and why it works. Or own up to the failure when it doesn't work, as the case may be. Regardless, there is often little more but your own experience to fall back on, until you fin other outliers who have had similar successes with what you're doing.

I can tell you first hand, when we first started talking about the use of botanicals and playing with blackwater aquariums, we received a lot of response- both supportive and dismissive. A Lot of hobbyists thought that adding botanical materials to your aquarium in quantity was a recipe for a "tank crash." They felt that what we were proffering was reckless and ill-thought-out. I hear a lot of backlash about "pH plummeting into the abyss", "ammonia spikes", and other horrible fates that awaited me as I continued further down the road.

And guess what? None of them happened. Oh sure, I had some things work better this others. I lost fishes here and there- for various reasons. But I developed a set of practices, protocols, procedures- to assure myself the greatest likelihood of success. To prevent the "prophesized" disasters from happening. And when I would encounter a setback, I researched and consulted and asked the tough questions to figure out what I did wrong, then I corrected my procedures and moved forward. I took the time to write down and share everything I learned with my fellow hobbyists. Shared everything that I've learned and thought about- still do- in this blog and elsewhere.

I'm not that unique. Not some shining example. However, I am just an average guy with an above average interest in a rather arcane subject within the aquarium hobby, and I pushed to learn as much as I can about it. Lots of you do the same...have for decades.

Many of you were dabbling with some of this stuff yourselves, and we were able to trade "war stories", share ideas, discuss our successes and failures. We collaborated. We took an idea which was typically dismissed or seen as some sort of "side show" and looked at it more seriously, more procedurally...And we are seeing the emergence of blackwater, botanical-style aquarium as a legitimate methodology to successfully keep and breed a wide variety of fishes. We learn new stuff every day- together.

This is the way you push out into the unknown and weather the unwarranted "criticisms" or plain old attacks. You DO. You focus. You find others who have similar interests and share ideas. You collaborate. And most of all, you share. Without fear. Without judgement. And without expectation of anything, other than perhaps inspiring others to follow the path you've taken if they desire, and to expand and improve upon it.

It's hard to take criticism. Especially when it' for something you hold near and dear, and work with daily. However, in the aquarium world, like in so many other places- it comes with the territory.

For those of you pushing out into new territories- new frontiers:

Move forward. Bravely. 

Take comfort in the fact that you are trying. Take comfort i the fact that your work may inspire others...and in it's own little way, perhaps change the aquarium hobby.

You're no fool.

Stay bold. Stay dedicated. Stay tenacious. Stay thick skinned.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

More than acquaintances - Really getting to know those fish of yours!

If you ask a bunch of aquarists what got them into the hobby in the first place, you’re bound to get a lot of different answers: Many will tell you that it was the sheer beauty, or for the challenge of creating a stable "slice of the bottom" in their living room, and some just like messing with all the new high-tech gadgets! For many of us, however, what piqued our initial interest was the fishes! 

Yup — even with all of the fancy plants, shrimp and other life forms we keep in our tanks, none are more compelling than the colorful, fascinating fishes that swim in our carefully crafted underwater worlds. There’s just something relaxing, inspiring, and just plain amazing about watching our fishes.

But how well do you really know your fishes? You’ve probably already figured out that your Leporinus fasciatus is an herbivore, and that it needs a lot of swimming room. Yet, have you really given thought to why the fish looks the way it looks, the environment where it’s found, and it’s social behaviors? Maybe not, because you “know what you need to know” about the fish and are content with that. However, one of the best things we can do as hobbyists is to really get to know our fishes. By “know” I’m not just talking about being aware that your Pencifish  comes from the Aripuana River, or whatever.

I’m talking about really learning about the animal and it’s needs. With a few pleasant hours of research, you can gain an amazing insight into your fishes. Spending quality time on a scientific site such as fishbase.org can help take your understanding of the fish to a whole new level.

Not only can you find out more about the fish’s physiology, you can research things like gut-content analysis of collected specimens, which can help you more accurately replicate their captive diet. You can also find data about where various type specimens were collected. Valuable information like depth, habitat, time of year, and water temperature. All of these details can really help you in your efforts to create the best possible captive situation for your fishes.

Beyond simply researching the fishes, you could take it to another level and actually visit them on the wild reef. Trust me, getting SCUBA certified was one of the best things this stubborn surfer ever did. Nothing I have done previously has given me a greater understanding of fishes and reefs than going out and seeing them in their natural habitat!

As a dive-certified fish geek, you separate yourself from all of the other hapless masses of clueless recreational divers and have a chance to contribute to the body of knowledge of the reefs. When everyone else is busy looking at that big dumb grouper or boring old shark, you’ll no doubt be drawn to that tiny blenny hiding in the coral rubble! Alright, you might make a lousy dive buddy, but you’ll be a keen observer of nature!

Or just go visit a creek, river, or pond and spend some time observing. Maybe even in The Amazon, if you're lucky!

Not only will you gain a greater appreciation for the delicate nature of the natural environment, you’ll develop a great understanding of fishes’ behaviors in their native habitats. You’ll be able to more accurately replicate (or in some cases decide that you can’t replicate) the environmental niche from which your fish comes.

Seeing fishes in the wild give you insights, which may help you and other aquarists unlock their secrets — perhaps leading to further breakthroughs in their husbandry and captive propagation. Anything that we can do to help protect wild populations and preserve the environment is certainly worth the time and effort.

I am reminded of a charming, but beautiful passage by Kiyoshi Endoh in his great little saltwater book Angelfishes of The World:

“First of all, keep angelfishes with your love, in a suitable habitat with good equipment and proper nutrition until the end of their life.”

Pretty much sums it all up, huh?

Last, but certainly not least, you can take your hard-won knowledge and really get to help others — and ourselves — by sharing. Not just passing on a book recommendation or a thread from a discussion board. I’m talking about telling your fellow hobbyists just what you know and how you do it! Contribute to the body of knowledge out there in the hobby. Go online and write a blog, attend a local club meeting or start a club if none exist in your area. Travel to a hobby conference and spend a weekend talking fish with other fanatics. Write about your experiences or help a beginner. If you’ve totally lost it, like me, you’ll end up jetting around the country sharing your knowledge with any other crazy fish geeks who will listen.

The bottom line here is that there are lots of ways to really get to know your fishes. And the best part is that pretty much every one of them will benefit ourselves, our fellow hobbyists, and most important — the animals themselves. So next time you stare in at that new cichlid, killie, or wild Betta- take the time to really get to know the fish- on a deeper level!

Stay curious. Stay intrigued. Stay excited. Stay charmed.

And Stay wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics

Before you hit "return..."

Part of being a modern aquarium hobbyist is the inevitable interactions, debates, differences in opinion, and even flat-out arguments. With so many people from so many walks of life being in the aquarium hobby, it's little wonder that there are so many opinions on everything! And, with online forums and social media platforms forming a vital part of our hobby interactions, it's easier than ever before to engage with fellow hobbyists.

Sometimes, you'll get into a conversation where the other person makes an assertion that you know is wrong, perhaps admonishing or "correcting" you...and you're faced with that tough decision to respond and "gently correct" the person right back...or to "stand down" and walk away, avoiding what is likely to be one of those all day, back-and-forth post wars. You know. The "high road." Being the "bigger person." Whatever.

You've had this happen before, right? You've been in that moral dilemma?

What did you do?

I've done both over the years...You know, sort of walked away and just told myself that my time is more valuable, as well as "re-engaged", ending up in the aforementioned all-day, online slugfest in which "victory" usually ends in a draw caused by a war of attrition, with two hobbyists who would be better off working with each other on stuff, "butt-hurt" over some stupid issue that only they cared about.

Why?

Is it ego? Is it pride? The need to be correct? To show the other party you know more? To save your reputation? To set the "record straight" and make sure accurate information is disseminated? What is it that fuels the desire to respond? Probably some form of all of those things and more.

And you know how it goes...some will say that you look like a straight-up asshole, and other people will back you 100%...and the vast majority will simply pull up a bowl of popcorn and watch the fireworks. In fact, a lot of online forums have an emoji for that! The reality is that a pretty good percentage of people on the forum won't give a damn at all.

So the desire to respond is, as they say, "...all about YOU."

I had one of those "it always happens on social media" incidents recently. Might as well share it wth you.

I was answering a question about something related to brackish water aquaria, and I made a comment that I was operating the tank in question at 1.005. Another respondent authoritatively stated that 1.005 is "not brackish." And then made another assertion about ocean specific gravity that, well, let's say, was very open for debate (I wanted to tell him so badly that I was a reefer and that I co-owned a successful coral-propagation business, and that he better BRING it if he's gonna play on my turf..Ya know, the usual idiotic ego-massaging attitude, from which nothing good can come..Stuff like that.)

But of course, what really stuck in my head:

"Not brackish."

Oh?

Like, for hours. I had a response ready to go. All I had to do was hit "return" and this guy would be "put in his place"- yeah! 

What to do. What to do...

Damn, I would have liked to have written back that I disagreed, based on a LOT of research and even talking to a marine scientist who can really confirm the correct answer.  And the fact that I have a company which offers materials to support brackish water aquariums made me feel like I SHOULD respond...to sort of "clear the air." But it also made me realize that it's shitty "optics" to get into an argument online in front of a huge audience, cementing my business reputation in that forum as a jerk! And quite frankly, I had no interest of not getting into an endless loop of back and forth tit-for-tat arguments over minutiae that, at the end of the day, will only benefit a tiny percentage of indiviudals.

And really, why? What was my ego so challenged by this? Am I the only one who gets this way about stuff? I doubt it...but when you're in the middle of it- in the "fog of battle- it feels like it, huh? And the guy who "corrected" me was probably a normal, nice guy who was just trying to do what I felt I was doing- helping to clear the air; to be helpful in general. Probably meant nothing malicious at all, right?

And remember, when you hit "return", and the other party responds...it's "game on." If he's ready to go with tons of stuff from "Google Scholar" or whatever to back up his argument, you better have the energy and resources to go at it. And all of your high-fallutant friends in the fish world that you have on your iPhone's speed dial? Well, they're too busy watching "Game of Thrones" or whatever to back your ass up. 

Better be ready to go it alone. That's the reality.

I opted out and said nothing further. I figured that having someone pissed off at me, and then my company, because we disagreed on a public forum on some petty issue (and oh, if he escalated, I would have just schooled the guy, because I have some very scholarly information from a scientist friend that would be hard to argue against...), but I deferred. Glad I did. What was the point? Besides, most of the information I had to back up my argument was so esoteric that it was at the extreme fringes of my own comprehension to even explain properly...

And the reality is, we should all make the effort to learn from each other. Everyone has something cool to share, and we owe it to them to listen... Kumbaya, mother f------.

But this guy was WRONG! 

Part of me really wanted to respond! But I was over it. Yep.

Yet, it sort of stuck in my mind. All friggin' day.

And the issue at hand- what brackish water really is, is not the "tightest" definition around. I suppose it could be argued from lots of angles, to the point of exhaustion...and no doubt exposing the fact that I barely peeked out a passing grade in college chemistry. I mean, what if the guy was a chemist? What if he had super-current information that trumped mine?

Shit.

Although I know I have the right answer. LOL

So what is the deal?

The definition of "brackish" is...well- admittedly, a bit vague! Technically, what we call "brackish" water by definition contains between 0.5 to 13 parts per thousand (ppt) of salt, which corresponds to a specific gravity between 1.005 and 1.010. It's all over the map, but science generally concurs that it falls into that range. In fact, by some definitions  water up to .30 ppt (roughly 1.022) is still "brackish." I've kept reef tanks at 1.022! Perhaps debatable what the "optimum" brackish water specific gravity is, but the fact is, 1.005 is by most any standard in science, brackish.

So, rather than engage the guy there, look what I did to slake my ego's thirst for revenge...I made my argument on my own damn forum. So I only look like a jerk to you, my audience? Yeah. That made a lot of sense, huh? That's mature. That's logical.

"Childish."

"Chicken-shit."

"Petty."

"Mean spirited."

Yep. All those things. But it feels so damn good.

So, the next time someone gets under YOUR skin on line...before you hit "return"- Think it through. In the grand scheme of life, and in the greater fish geek world, is it worth it?

Oh, HELL yes!

LOL

Stay calm. Stay collected. Stay mature. Stay focused.

Yeah, right.

Okay, well...

Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

Pushing out further into the dark frontier...

With the growing interest in blackwater/botnaical-stye aquariums all over the world, we're seeing things happening on so many levels in so many areas of the hobby. Initially, virtually everything we collectively did was sort of "proof of concept" stuff; just seeing if we could throw leaves, seed pods, etc, into our aquariums and not have a disaster on our hands. Although hobbyists have been adding leaves and such to aquariums for years and years, it was always seen as sort of a "sideshow" and a kind of "anomaly" in the greater context of the aquarium hobby. Fear, rumor, misinformation, exaggerated claims, and simple disinterest dominated this topic.

It's all changing now. Rapidly. We as a whole are using blackwater aquariums to accomplish all sorts of cool things. And we're still learning. Learning to manage the chemical interactions and buildup of organics in a closed system, etc.

Nowadays, it's about refining techniques; using botanical materials to achieve specific goals, and using botanicals to create blackwater environments to accomplish things (both new and previously tried) that haven't been done before. We are literally scratching the surface of what is possible, and our knowledge, although expanding rapidly, is still very much in its infancy. 

What are some examples of concepts that are emerging as interesting places to play in the current blackwater "universe?" Well, let's take a look at some of the most exciting and promising avenues that hobbyists are taking as they push out into the "dark frontier!"

In no particular order...

Very low pH setups: This is currently the realm of super-experienced, highly experimental hobbyists, who are perhaps trying to unlock secrets of very demanding fishes, such as Altum Angels and others, which are known to come from and thrive in pH levels below 5.0. And, to achieve and maintain such pH levels, we're learning that the careful administration of acids is required. And the management of low pH systems, with the additional benefit of humic substances provided by botanicals, is a real "frontier" in the hobby. Even in the greater context of the blackwater aquarium world, it's seen as such. But it's not the frightening sideshow it once was.

Understanding water quality management and the way in which denitrification occurs in closed systems in very low pH is challenging. On the surface, it seems really scary. I believe it's more of a function of the fact that we haven't done much with this in the past, and we simply don't have a "path" to follow just yet. We need to understand a different class of organisms which "run the cycle" in this environment, and how to manage them. I suspect, that at some future point, there may indeed be more specific procedures, and perhaps even products available to manage the water quality, nitrogen cycle, and overall aquarium environment, It's a highly specialized area, but one which seem to be getting more and more attention from it's fans. We've seen hobbyists venture into "difficult and scary" hobby specialties before...Will this be the "reef aquarium" of the 2020's? We hope!

Planted blackwater systems: As more hobbyists are attracted to the aesthetics of blackwater aquariums, we're starting to pull in more and more aquascapers and planted tank enthusiasts. They're examining all sorts of ways to get plant growth in blackwater habitats. Now, it's long been known that many of the South American blackwater rivers, such as the Rio Negro, are essentially devoid of aquatic plants, or have extremely limited varieties of them. And I think that this might have discouraged a lot of aquatic plant enthusiasts from going further.

I've read a number of scientific papers which suggest that one of the largest factors limiting growth of aquatic plants in blackwater environments is...light penetration. Yeah, not pH, not lack of nutrients. Simple light penetration. And planted people know that you can obtain growth in aquatic plants through application of good lighting, CO2 administration, and rich substrates. We're starting to see all of these things being utilized on a more serious basis in blackwater, botanical-style aquariums, and the early results are that this is very promising! In fact, many have already been there, playing with plants like Cryptocoryne, which have long been known to thrive in various low-pH blackwater habitats. You can feel a "momentum" of sorts in this area that is exciting to see!

Fish breeding technique:  It's never been a "secret" that many fishes, such as Tetras, Bettas, killifishes, Rainbowfishes, Apistogramma, and many other fishes breed more ready and prolifically in blackwater systems. For decades, hobbyists have augmented or "conditioned" their fishes in aquariums in which leaves and peat and such were added to lower the pH and induce spawning. However, with the greater understanding and practice of keeping blackwater, botanical-style aquariums, we are seeing more and more "full-time" systems of this nature being utilized to keep fishes in for the expressed purpose of getting them to settle in and reproduce.

We're looking more and more at providing fishes with the conditions to which they have evolved over eons to live  and reproduce in on a full-time basis, rather than "adapting" them to our tapwater conditions. And since we've been doing this, we're seeing spawnings of fishes occurring o na very frequent basis. As techniques for maintaining such aquariums have evolved, I think that the mindset of many who's primary hobby is to breed certain fishes is evolving to. Perhaps we're seeing a greater acceleration of what already was an evolving "mental shift", letting go of some old preconceptions, and thinking about the long-term benefits of maintaining fishes full-time in blackwater conditions.

Rearing fry: With so many hobbyists who breed fishes  utilizing materials like leaf litter and various botanicals in their spawning setups, it is not surprising that we are beginning to see fry being reared in botanical-style aquariums as well. The presence of decomposing leaf litter and other botanical materials not only provides protection and foraging areas for fry, it's known to foster a variety of microbial life forms which provide them additional nutrition in their early life stages, much like they do in nature.

It's no just a longer a matter of these materials providing incidental beneficial microbial growth for fry which emerge in the spawning tank. Now, we know a number of breeders who are utilizing "deep leaf litter beds" in fry rearing tanks for fishes like Apistos and characins. Not only do the youngsters get the benefits of humic substances imparted by the leaves and such, they have a continuous safe foraging area. With some forethought, breeders might "inoculate" their rearing tank botanical beds with various beneficial microorganisms like Paramecium, rotifers, Daphnia, etc., to provide a full-time foraging substrate in the rearing tank! Interesting stuff that we're pretty excited to see more of! 

And to think, it all sort of started with hobbyists preparing and throwing some botanical materials in their tanks and realizing, "Yeah, this seems a lot like what we see in nature!"

Of course, there are many other areas in which you- the members of "Tint Nation"- are pushing the boundaries in aquarium technique by utilizing elements of blackwater, botnaical-style aquariums, and many more techniques to discover, develop, and refine. With so much interest in  our "dark world", we're seeing an exciting influx of new people, new energy, and new ideas, which will enrich and enhance the art and science of aquarium keeping, for the benefit of everyone who participates in this awesome hobby!

What interesting "specialty" are YOU working with in this context? What ideas are you trying to refine? 

Be sure to always share and discuss your findings- good and bad- so that we as a community can benefit and learn together!

Stay excited. Stay daring. Stay innovative. Stay engaged. Stay generous.

And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman

Tannin Aquatics 

That "fishy" part of you...

After a certain number of years in the aquarium keeping game, it seems as if you develop, in addition to an ever-growing collection of fish, tanks, mineral-encrusted equipment, and “stuff”, a certain “je ne sais quoi” - an intrinsic knowledge, a “sixth sense”, or even a swagger, if you will, about your aquariums. Am I right here? I mean, after you’ve collected, kept, bred- and yeah, unfortunately- killed- your fair share of ‘em, you kinda just “know” when things are going well, and when something is terribly amiss with your collection. It’s a skill- or perhaps- a blessing- or even a “curse” that we afflicted fish geeks acquire during our tenure in the aquarium-keeping hobby..

Healthy? Unhealthy? You can tell, huh? You just can.

You know exactly what I’m talking about, don’t you? Yeah…You’ve developed that crazy ability to look beyond the obvious when observing your tank, and being able to quickly ascertain what’s going on in there. You can tell at a glance that your favorite cichlid is just not behaving right, or that your prized Aponegeton is about to go south. Perhaps it’s a result of that new fertilizer you just switched to, or that change you made to your lighting program. Maybe, it’s a result of postponing your regular water change. Regardless of what it is, you have the ability to sense something is not right. 

After dealing with- no- obsessing with- aquariums for a few years, you certainly develop a personal “baseline” for your animals, and when something is “not right”, it’s immediately apparent to you. And the interesting thing is that this ability comes to EVERYONE who keeps aquariums…It’s not a skill reserved for the privileged few or the occasionally “gifted” aquarist…No- it’s a skill that we DEVELOP over time based on observing and adjusting…and enduring” the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of an aquarium. For that matter, you have the ability to know when your tank is just...cranking! Just "on", with everything looking great and in the peak of health. You don't need a test kit to determine this...you can tell.

When it's on...it's obvious to you, isn't it?

Sure, you can read all about fishes and plans and their care on line, in a book, or in a magazine, but the ultimate skill comes from practicing aquarium keeping. In other words, the hobby really separates the “talkers” from the “doers” without doubt or prejudice. You know because you’re a fish geek. And if you don’t know, you’ll learn if you stay in the game. You’ll encounter pests, equipment failures, diseases, bad results resulting from bad decisions. You’ll also learn from the great decisions that you’ve made; from the hunch that you played about moving that Sword Plant over a few inches to the right. From the time that you passed on adding that Cory to your system, or from the brilliant decision to change out that old heater that was sticking in the “on” position.

No matter how large or how small your tank is…No matter what type of methodology you embrace, the longer you stay in the game, the more you’ll develop this skill as long as you practice aquarium keeping. The funny thing is, even though it makes sense that, yeah- the longer you do something, the better you get at it- not everyone acts on this information. Some people can recognize that something is amiss, but they fail to interpret it or do something about it.

You’ll develop the sense I’m talking about almost from day one in the hobby. However, what separates the “talented” fish keeper from the masses who simply keep fish tanks is that the aquarist with talent knows what to do with this innate sense. He or she knows that, if something is not right, they need to make this or that adjustment- or even do nothing at all. They know this because they practice aquarium keeping, discuss aquarium keeping, and well- live, eat, drink, sleep aquarium keeping. It becomes not just a hobby, but a lifestyle. They have an attachment to their tanks much the way a dog or cat owner has that attachment to their beloved pet. It’s way beyond just a hobby- it becomes part of a lifestyle.

Yeah, to some people, it’s not only part of their lifestyle, but a dominant factor in their existence, affecting all sorts of other decisions, such as relationships, travel, home buying decisions, and economic goals. Sometimes, it’s not a healthy thing, either. I’ve known aquarium hobbyists whose relationships failed, finances collapsed, and lifestyles negatively affected because they were more in tune with their tanks than they were with the other realities of life. I mean, yeah, those are extreme cases with perhaps other types of dysfunction already present, yet for the majority of us, he signs of aquarium keeping's affects on our lives-good and bad- are everywhere for almost all of us, if you think about it. 

When was the last time you decided NOT to install that new piece of equipment before you left on the family vacation, because you were afraid of the possibility that it could fail when you were out of town? Or, perhaps you passed on a social engagement because you were doing a major overhaul to your aquascaping. Or maybe, you didn’t get that new dishwasher you really needed because it was more important at the time to get the new LED system for your tank…Subtle decisions that can have greater impact down the line, or even collectively- possibly leading your life into unexpected new directions as a result. Sure, these are extreme interpretations, but there are unintended consequences- booth good and bad- to being a hardcore aquarist. The difference is about how you let it affect you and the rest of your life, I think.

Aquarium keeping is part of your life, but it should just be "part" of your life...

On the good side, many people have developed lifelong friendships as a result of their hobby. Some have went on to start companies that affected the industry and hobby. Still others went on to share their experiences with others by writing or speaking. Rewarding turns that have enriched lives greatly- not only for the aquarist- but for the other aquarists he or she came into contact with as a result of their mutual love for the hobby. 

The intriguing thing about this hobby is just how addicting or engaging it can be. How all-encompassing and satisfying it is. I can honestly say that I don’t think I’ve ever met a person who “dabbles” with aquarium keeping. They’re either hooked on it, or they keep Goldfish or something. Why is that? Well, I think that part of the reason is that once you try a tropical fish tank, you just “get it”, and your interest and passion blossom from there. Aquarium keeping offers stimulation and challenges that few other hobbies can.

For us, it's fishes. 

Those of us who are hardcore fish geeks are basically in it for life. Sure, there might be a year or two where circumstances keep us out of the game for a bit, but we never fully disengage. I know a lot of hobbyists who had awesome tanks, and then for one reason or another, got out for a while…However, when they got back into it- and they ALWAYS did- they would tell me things like, “Yeah, I always followed the forums and read the magazines and stuff..” It just never really gets out of your system.

This “thing” that we do- this hobby, pastime- obsession…whatever you wan to call it, seems to encompass every emotion and experience you can have in life, doesn’t it? Pleasure, pain, happiness, sorrow, frustration, a sense of individuality, as well as a sense of belonging- they’re all there. 

When did YOU know that you had that “thing” for fish keeping?  Was it a gradual transition from other aquatic interests, or was it this thing that just hit you one day? Did you start on your own, or did someone else get you hooked? How long did it take to get hooked on this hobby? What kind of impact does fish keeping have on the rest of your life?

Interesting questions to ponder, aren’t they?  

Stay engaged. Stay balanced. Stay obsessed...


And Stay Wet.

Scott Fellman
Tannin Aquatics

It's okay NOT to tint...

We've talked about the idea of "clear water" botanical-style aquariums before. In other words, aquariums in which botanical items are utilized, where the water remains clear, not amber-to-brown-colored, but it is something that we as a group tend to look the other way on, which I think is funny. I mean, a few years ago, you were considered sort of odd by the aquarium world for wanting brown water. Now, in our community, NOT wanting brown water is often looked on a bit strangely, lol.

On the other hand, it is absolutely possible (and entirely realistic) to have an aquarium with botanical materials that does not have the lovely "cafe au lait" look that we all know and love so well!

In a twist on one of our own marketing slogans, "It's okay NOT to tint..."

Yup.

Although the three "classical water types" (white, black and clear) are used by science to describe many of these habitats, aquarists tend to classify water as "blackwater" or "clearwater", which, although not scientifically "pure", tends to make our understanding and discussions easier!

And the reality is that there are many, many habitats throughout the world which have tons (literally) of botanical materials in them, yet have relatively clear water. It's certainly not a given that the presence of leaves, wood, and other botanical materials in a given body of water will result in brown water and low pH. Rivers like the Juruá, Japurá, Purus, and Madeira) are turbid, with water transparency that varies, and they transport large amounts of nutrient-rich sediments from The Andes. Their waters have near- neutral pH and relatively high concentrations of dissolved solids.

The Rio Xingu and Tapajós are classic examples of "clearwater" rivers. One of the largest tributaries of the Amazon, the "Xingu" has an abundance of rock, and a higher content of dissolved minerals than a blackwater habitat like the Rio Negro. There is not much suspended matter because the rock formations which the river courses through are ancient and no longer erode in the current. The pH varies between 6 and 7.

As we've mentioned many times, water color, although helpful to us aquarists in some respects, is not an absolutely reliable indicator of the pH or ionic composition of the water! There is no substitute for good, old-fashioned water testing!

Interestingly (and perhaps, confusingly) the lower section of some Amazonian black-water rivers such as the Rio Negro, Tefé, Uatumã and Urubu in Brazil; Nanay in Peru and some streams in Colombia can have ionic composition and/or pH-values similar to the white water rivers, and not like the typical Amazonian blackwater rivers. It is though by researchers that low electrical conductivity values can be responsible for this phenomenon.